Pam, I'm so sorry about your kitty. I'm amazed by some people's attitude about animals and lack of care for them. That van driver should be ashamed of him/herself. Sorry you have to switch rooms. That involves so much work before the start of school.

Kerry, I like your attitude about taking some time away. If DH isn't into going away for the weekend, then you should do it for yourself. You go girl!

Sue, YES I LOVE SUMMERS...I LIVE FOR THEM!!! I'm really glad I can live my life only concerned with my reputation in the eyes of my DD and her friends rather than my students (although, I do miss them, and wouldn't mind running into them once in a while).

Ginny, what do you mean "used to be a HUGE Chicago fan?!" Did they do something to offend? Or did you just lose interest, and if so, why?! Only kidding with ya . We had such fun...

Mouse, the cheesecake was DELICIOUS, but I think it may have been part of the diarrhea episode because of HIGH FAT. I didn't eat much of the creamy cauliflower because it was SOOOO CREAMY, and I know how badly I respond to whole cream. Silly me, I thought that foods put on a menu precisely for people trying to lose weight would be not only sugar-free but at least low-fat as well. That apparently WAS NOT the case. The Baja Bob's margarita was not the cause which I am very happy about.

Robyn, I'm glad your prof. dev. is done. I can understand not wanting to do it in the first weeks of August either. When do you go back? For some unknown reason, we go back on 8/29. Last year we were back in school an entire week earlier. So, this year summer is 10 weeks long. Last year's was 8 weeks long. I don't know why they don't make every summer the same length. I technically have 6 weeks left, but I will be back in my room in 5 weeks to assess the damage and prepare for the new year. My good custodian was supposed to be transferred because she could no longer stand working with the Nimrod. This summer Nimrod is in the building by himself except for the principal. Who knows what he will do without anyone really watching him. The early childhood department ordered me tons of new stuff, and I'm really concerned that the boxes will end up "lost." He will need to assemble a bunch of stuff which he just can't do. My good custodian had to do everything like that for him, and with her gone, who knows what will happen. Part of me wants to go to school and check things out, but I'm afraid if I do, my summer will be over. So, I'm going to restrain myself and stay away until the week before school starts.

Yesterday, DD had a play date with my teacher friend's DD. The girl is really competitive, too outspoken, and demanding. At first, she seemed really sweet, but now that she is comfortable with us she can be pretty obnoxious. She and DD were bickering over everything. It is too bad because my friendship with the girl's mom has been growing, and it would be nice if her DD was nicer. When kids play at my house and misbehave, the teacher in me lays down the law. With this child, I've been hesitant about being too "mean" because I don't want her to tell her mother that I wasn't nice to her. I know I should treat all DD's friends the same, but with my friendship being so new, I don't want to "rock the boat." Next time this kid is over without her mom, I think I will just be my normal self because otherwise I will end up blowing up and screaming at her...which I try to avoid with all kids. My friend is a special ed teacher and knows everything about behavior management, but her own kids are so spoiled!

Last night, the tricklets (triplets) and their parents came over for a BBQ. We had BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, and salad. The kids had s'mores for dessert. I drank my Baja Bob margaritas and ENJOYED myself. It was fun getting to know the parents a lot better, and the kids behaved so well. The boy and one of the girls who is a tomboy can be challenging sometimes, but not last night. The girls slept over and are still here now. They spent the morning doing karaoke and will be leaving this afternoon. They have been very low-maintenance which is good since I'm a bit hungover!

I need to blow off some steam.

This afternoon, DH and I took DD to see "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." When I wasn't being disturbed by the high-pitched screaming and crying of a toddler in the theater, the movie was quite magical and entertaining. But you see, this baby would not stop crying hysterically except for a few intermittent moments. After about the first 15 minutes a guy shouted out, "Take the baby outside!" The baby continued to cry, and the parent didn't budge. Then there was a small quiet break for us to get involved in the movie. Too quickly it began again. Nobody spoke up. After the first hour of more crying than quiet, I could no longer restrain myself and said, "Please take the baby out of the theater!" Again, no response. I was tempted to get an usher, but was seated in the center of the last row in stadium seating. In order to do so I would have to disturb at least 20 people. I was unwilling to do that...you see, I was brought up with manners and concern for others' feelings. At the end of the movie I was fuming . When I suggested that I ask for a refund, DH said, "Oh what's the big deal? It wasn't so loud that we couldn't hear the movie over the crying." He acted like I was just overreacting. That only made me more pissed off.

I realize that a lot of people have low standards of behavior. But you see, I was raised to behave and to expect it of others. DD didn't see her first movie till she was old enough to sit through the entire movie. The couple of times she got either crabby or chatty and wouldn't be quiet, we left so that we wouldn't continue to disturb others. Just because you are watching a child's movie doesn't mean you have to accept a miserable viewing experience. When I was a kid, ushers would be monitoring the goings on in the theater and would ask people who were disturbing others to leave. Now you can't find an usher at all. Maybe I am overreacting. If so, I don't care. I don't appreciate paying almost $20 for 3 matinee tickets only to have the movie ruined by a squealing baby and it's thoughtless parent.

Summer- well, it sure does sound as though you are having a pleasurable summer!!!
Between the BBQ last nite and the movie today.....some nice fun times and socialization too. Too bad about the not to perfect play date....and then the screaming kid in the movie. I did the same with my own- would not take them until they would sit during the entire movie. But then I made sure my kids could sit.... and they did.....so either I was a nasty witch for a mother or was blessed with kids who could sit. Big mouthed me would have said something to the usher or front desk of the theater, I feel it is up to the theater to control their patrons or make sure that they are not disrupting the entire theater. Glad the movie was good- Dd and I would like to see it.

Well, Dh took Ds to both of his games.......this has been a much needed day off. I did not think I could stand more baseball and tomorrow I know that I will have to go to whatever games there are. Tonite, if the thunder storms hold off, Dd and I are going to a concert downtown- some world renowned fiddler- plays all kinds of music from traditional to jazz. The concert is free -fits my budget just fine!- and in a park with a great jungle gym set up (actually 2 of them) so Dd can run around and have fun while mom listens. Would be nice if Dh came with us but he is in baseball mode.......c'est la vie.
Better go get a quick dinner on and check the weather. See ya!
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
Well we got rained on at the games. In fact, dumb me wore a white t-shirt and was soaked to the bone. My dh took me to lunch at Burger King looking like a drowned rat. He was like you don't seem to be happy with the choice I made for lunch. I said no I am not since I don't eat Whoppers anymore and all I can have here is a salad. I said I told you I was really hungry and that fast food was not going to cut. After lunch we came home and took naps. Than we went out to the local steakhouse for dinner. I got a salad, two chicken breast and green beans. Plus I tried a piece of their sugar-free apple pie. Now I am home by myself. Yeah! I can do something I want to do. My dh went back over to the fairgrounds to watch the horse racing. I figured we went last night and I didn't need to see it again tonight. So I think I will read for a little bit, maybe ride my excerise bike and watch a little tv this evening.
Summer, sorry your movie today was not an enjoyable outing. I can't stand parents who don't care about others feelings while listening to their child cry. I hope your evening is better. Sounds like you had fun getting drunk last night.
Ginny, hope you have a wonderful time at your concert. That sounds like a lot of fun.
Hello to Robyn, Sue, Pam and Mouse.
Take care,
Kerry

Hello all...
Watch out...I'm on a roll!

I will spare you the gory details of the local news...but the missing child was murdered by the "babysitting" boyfriend of his aunt. There is a bunch more depressing stuff... and they aren't releasing much....I think that this one is going to be a huge tragic story when it is all said and done. The child was in a diaper as punishment for wetting his pants; however, he never wandered off...he was murdered instead. Bleech. Yes, this happens way too often.... I had much first hand knowledge of similar stuff when at my old school.... BUT this one for some reason really, really, really, REALLY got to me! I'll stop with this topic.

That animal control officer was so sweet. Such indifference and coldness. You did good not to be more verbal regarding her reaction...I'm afraid that I would have been a tad bit more, um, "ROBYN" about it all!

My oldest and I visited Walmart last evening at 11:15. We were 7th in line for THE book of the summer! The time went by quickly watching the comings of the line that eventually stretched well beyond and around the corner of our line of vision! We arrived home and dutifully turned the book over to the 1st one to read it....my dh!
He read late into the night and has been reading off and on all day! I ended up so jealous that I visited the library to get something new for myself! Has anyone read the "Bubbles" books? They are similar to Evanovitch...not as good...but they work while I'm waiting for my reserve to come in on the 11th Stephanie Plum book! It was cool hanging out last night with the oldest kid. I'm not accustomed to looking up at him. And I did remind him that no matter how tall he gets that he is to be respectful and to "act right"!

Summer, I'm with you regarding behavior. I don't expect excellence; however, I do expect civilized behavior and attitudes! Movie theaters, restraunts (with kids hanging over booths or running around or under tables), stores (digging into stuff, leaving stuff all over the store).......There is just a way to act and expect your children to act... I particularly "luv" foul mouthed adults. Don't get me wrong...as you might imagine, I can roll with the best of the sailor mouths (have you seen THAT episode of Sponge Bob?! My very most favorite SBSP episode! LOL ); however, there is a time, a place ...AND...a volume for it. ARGGGH!

Today the kids and I went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Movie tickets (discounted for the early show), 2 small drinks, 1 popcorn, (and not including the candy for oldest in braces...which if you have seen the movie will make you giggle at the thought! ..and brought into the theater in my purse..) totaled $38.50 I love babies, toddlers EVEN more...but.... THERE is a time and a place and a volume for everything...I do understand wanting to get out of the house with your family and wanting to see a movie. BUT...some folks don't have the high tolerance of the family that lives with a baby or screaming toddler AND has gotten over wanting to attend to the needs of the child...AND I'm paying $38 to sit in the place, I shouldn't have to listen to a poor tired baby being ignored so his/her parent can see the newest flick!
(I won't go into the behavior of teenagers goofing off....I've got one of those and try desperately to keep his behavior in check AND him out of the theaters with no adult supervision! At this point, I go to the same movie with him... with the threat of "doing something that will totally embarrass him" IF I see or hear behavior that is rude, disrespectful and / or disturbing to others. At this point this is working...but who knows how long it will work...so I will only rant about babies! ) Actually, around here, children that are under 7 are not allowed into anything other than G rated movies after 7........... due to the "Stupid Parent Factor"...enough said. Summer I agree! ...and the dh's indifference would have also had steam coming out of my ears; however, I bet you a zillion lettuce leaves that your complaining after the movie wouldn't have produced any results! Enough on this subject too! ...except to say that Tim Burton's version of Charlie (IMHO) is WONDERFUL ...in a TimBurton sort of way! Johnny Depp is JOHNNY Depp; however, I am concerned that M.Jackson may sue over the similarities! ROTFLOL!

Gotta run...and besides, I'm sure you are tired of my mouth!
take care,
meeee

Wow! You guys were BUUUUSY!!!!!
Okay, so was I... let's see...
I went to the gym this morning to swim ... got a whole 25 minutes in before I had to run to work. Got egg and bacon at the one place before I went over (it was a sandwich, but I took the bread off the second sandwich and only ate 1 piece). We scored from 9-2, then I went back over to the mall... I bought a salad at this place called Bistro Sensations. They start you off with a base salad, and you can add your own toppings to it. I bought the seafood salad, and was disappointed: the menu claimed it was real crab, but only about half of it was real. I had to pick the surimi out because of the carbs! And it comes with pasta, too... so that was out, and the tomatoes and carrots. But it was good anyway: I got shrimp, black olives, lettuce, cucumbers, etc. Walked around a bit, and bought a car charger for the iPod, which doesn't seem to work, so I'll have to take it back to Radio Shack. Lucky I saved the package!
Then I went back to the gym, where I lifted weights and then swam for an hour. Then we had swimming lessons, and the kid I had last time came back. His mom registered him for a private lesson, and I didn't know becuase I missed last week (because of my car). She was real happy to see me, because her son has multiple special needs, and is hyper to boot! I can't turn my back on him for a minute!
Then I came home, after a quick stop at whole foods for fruit and veggies (strawberries, raspberries, lettuce, cucumbers). I did fall prey to the bakery section: they had whole wheat chocolate chip scones. Buy one get one free. I figure if I burn 5600 calories in one day (yes, that was the total per FitDay, because of all the swimming!!), I can have a scone, right???
And YES!!!! I have my Harry Potter book. UPS doesn't deliver on Saturdays, so Barnes and Noble shipped it UPS to Baltimore, who delivered it to the US Postal Service, who delivered it today. I feel sorry for all those post workers: these books weigh 2.5 pounds each!
I'm going to go eat my dinner (soup, from whole foods, roast beef and cheese, and maybe a scone???). Oh, yea, and READ!!!!!

A busy day here.....

Mouse- hope your evening was good......enjoying Harry????That whole wheat chocolate chip scone sounds wonderful......I love scones.....hope you enjoyed it! (think you burned off enough calories!)

Robyn- how awfully sad about that little boy. What TRASH the mother must be- what total trash the aunt and the bf.....these kind of people make me so ill. I hear ya with how odd it feels with a kid of your own who is taller than you. Gotta admit, when Ds became taller than me (I am a most towering 5'4"!) it was wierd. Dd (19) is basically my height. But you are so right, no matter how tall, there must still be respect. I will never forget a former Bf, whose mother barely made it to 5' tall- her youngest son was 6'4"l and she put the fear of god in him......and all her kids...pretty funny to see someone so tall cower to a really tiny woman.

Kerry -I hope you enjoyed your evening!!!!! What did you do? Just some quality "Kerry" time I hope!!!!!! (I sort of had some time off today- Dd, Ds and Dh were at the ball park and Dd had a buddy over.....so it was sort of quiet) I got a bit of cleaning done, which felt good not to have to clean around others. Hopefully you were able to recharge a bit, and relax too.

The concert was wonderful. We saw Eileen Ivers (sp?) a fiddler from Riverdance and her band. Phenominal (sp)......and pretty decent weather for an outdoor concert too. Dd and I had a great time. SO glad I went.....finally something I wanted to do.
Gotta go......have a great nite.Ginny

Well it sounds like everyone had a good day today. I went and rode my excerise bike for a half hour. Than was reading for a little bit when my friend called at 10 pm and asked if I would like to take a walk with her. So we took a short walk since it started to rain again. Sorry I didn't want to be in another wet tshirt contest today. LOL Came home to still yet an empty house. My dh finally came home about 10:45 to ask me if I wanted to go watch more baseball games tomorrow with him. I haven't made my decision yet. But it pisses me off that he never asks me anymore what I would like to do on our weekends together. I really think I will try to get a hold of my best friend tomorrow and plan a weekend trip somewhere. Well I better go and get ready for bed. Talk to you all tomorrow.
Take care,
Kerry

Kerry- sounds as though you had a nice day also. Think I would have skipped the wet tee shirt thing also......having been thru that earlier in the day. Hope that today turns out great for you,whatever you decide to do.
Ginny

I am so envious of you who got some alone time. I love my children to death but just one day I would love to be home alone! It just doesn't happen.

Our theatre actually has a statement that flashes before the movie (along with the buy popcorn, turn off cell phones, don't talk etc..) that says to remove crying babies and recieve a free refund of your money. I can't imagine sitting through a movie knowing your child was making it so others couldn't enjoy themselves. With the price of movies now, you definately want to be able to relax and enjoy it.

I am glad to hear people are enjoying Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I have been afraid to go to it since we have the original and would hate to see it done poorly.

I didn't golf yesterday because every time I thought about it, the weather looked like it was going to storm any minute. Of course it didn't and I could have gone. We need the rain so badly. I think there is a chance this afternoon. Unfortunately I didn't get much time with Harry either as I was doing some major baking to take on the camping trip. Robyn - I can't believe you have the book in the house and have to wait! Hopefully your husband is a fast read. Mouse - have you finished the book yet? Don't give anything away but please tell me that it wasn't as depressing as the last book!

Summer - I think Ruby Tuesday is more low carb than low fat. They do have some good things on the menu though. I haven't been there in a while but last time I had some type of fish that was delicious. Isn't it terrible when you lose good support staff? They do actually run the school as we all know. Our support staff has a wierd contract where at the end of the year the all bid and bump to get the job they want. It causes a lot of transfers. This year we lost our head custodian. He was really great. Anytime I asked for something to be done, even when I said it wasn't an emergency, he would come right down and do it. He would go in my office every morning before school and turn on my little heater, so it was all toasty in there when I came. He also would leave cookies for my children, who get on and off the bus at my school. He would leave them for me also but then I told him he was killing me due to being on WW, he started bringing me tossed salads! I'm guessing the new person won't do any of those things, not that I asked for or expected them. Although getting the work done quickly would be nice to continue. I don't have to be back to work until Sept. 6! We had 13 weeks plus this summer! Since our school is made up of several rural communities we are really spread out so it was cost effective to add minutes to the day and reduce the number of days. It works for me since getting out of bed in the morning is the only part I don't like about my job! I think in general teacher's children are worse than most. I'm not sure if it is because we are trained to boost self esteem or if we are too tired at the end of the school day to fight the same battles for control we do at school. I am fortunate that although not perfect, my children are pretty well behaved. Of course they know that I would knock their blocks off if they were disrespectful to someone. Hope you survived your hangover! I swear if I have more than one drink these days I pay for it in the morning. Getting old is a *****!

Mouse - even if you didn't work off as many calories as you do, I think you need to treat yourself to a scone here and there. You can not live on diet food alone for the rest of your life. Since you are so limited in what you can eat anyway, you need a treat now and then to keep you going. I actually try to have some "treat" every day. I find if I don't, I end up going on a crazy out of control binge.

Robyn - Isn't it crazy to have a child taller than you. My ds had one heck of a growth spurt this past school year and is now taller than me. He calls me shortie! His voice is also changing and he is sprouting hair everywhere! My dd just started wearing a bra! I am not ready for this. I want my babies back! It is terrible what happened to that boy. I hope they lock those people up for a long time. Did it appear that the mother was abusive too or was it just the aunt's bf who was watching him that weekend?

Kerry - I think you should definately plan a weekend with your friend. If your DH can't be bothered, why should you be punished. My DH is similar. He won't give up his weekend golf. Now I just plan camping trips and he comes for "visits" around his golf games. He will only stay the night if he takes the day off from work. It is fine with me though as he snores something terrible and I actually get a good nights sleep with him not there! My girlfriends are hoping to get a girls weekend some time this summer. It is just so hard to find a weekend that all three of us are free.

Sue

Afternoon, everybody.

Robyn: I have to agree with other posters: I cannot imagine anybody doing that to a child. It really makes me angry, because children don't deserve to be treated that way, and if you're GOING to treat a child that way or you don't have the ability to manage/take care of a child, DO NOT GET PREGNANT! There are many, many ways to prevent pregnancy! Use them! I swear, I'd like to inflict my endocrine disorder on every adult that has ever abused a child! That way, we could be sure that they'd never have another child to abuse!
Kerry: Sounds like fun... Most of my friends are, at this point, married, so I'm usually the odd one out. Actually, most of my friends are married and have or are about to have children. I only have one friend left that is anywhere near me and isn't married. I have two friends on Long Island that aren't married or dating at the moment, but Long Island is kinda far from VA/MD/PA.
Ginny: I did have a good evening, but was too tired to get very far in the book. I took it with me today when I went out to grab breakfast and go to the gym... but I can't read while I swim or lift weights! There are definitely times where I wish I could get audiobooks cheaper!!!! My mom bought the book on tape, but you need it on CD or to download it to put it on an iPod. I had tried audiobooks on CD (I bought John Grisham's last book on CD) when I was still using the CD player and the bag: it didn't work very well. It was hard to hear, because the sound quality in the waterproof earphones isn't great, and each CD only holds about 45 minutes to an hour's worth of book. So, I had to change CDs multiple times at the gym (once after lifting, once after swimming), and that meant opening that darned bag a lot. It wasn't complicated, but it was finicky. I just gave up and finished the book in my car. And then gave it to my mom to enjoy. I'll buy it in paperback when it comes out, because I do want to READ it. Listening just isn't the same, somehow.
Sue: Good idea, actually... and something that I have been doing more often. I went to Barnes and Noble after the gym (its right next door, woe to me since I love books AND sugar-free vanilla frappucinos with skim milk!), and bought my drink and a chocolate chip cookie. I still have the other scone, but it wasn't very scone-ish. It was more biscuit-y... a dry biscuit, at that. I also found a all-cheese berry thingy... it iddn't have any crust, and I'm allowed to have cheese, so I bought that for Monday or Tuesday night. I'm still pretty pleased with my carb levels... I'm under 100 most days, which is a huge change from when I started this. And I think I can honestly say that the nausea was from too many carbs, because if I eat too many, or I eat something that I didn't realize had as much (like forgetting to ask the chinese place to leave out corn starch, or not realizing that the cheap soup I bought one day used wheat flour as a thickener), I get nauseated again. And it hits me faster, because I'm eating so few refined carbs.
Well...I need to go grab my laundry (its about time I did it!!!!), and then I'm going to read! I also have 2 videos from NetFlix to watch: Mean Girls (not sure I'm going to be able to sit through that given that I teach high school AND that I was not exactly in the popular crowd... so much so that I refuse to go to the high school reunions!), and Quantum Leap, Season 3. But, I have to work tomorrow, and I have to go to Virginia on Tuesday, so I'm not sure when it will get watched!

Sue: 13 WEEK LONG SUMMERS?! That's it, I'm moving to Michigan!!! Woohoo!!! Well, I caught a peek at next year's calendar, and without snow days, we will only have 8 weeks...which means we will end up with only 7 weeks since we always have at least 4 or 5 snow days (not built in to the schedule) every year. So, I'm trying to make the most of this 10 weeks. You enjoy your extra 3!

Kerry, I don't know why, but men get to taking us for granted pretty easily. Focus on YOU. Do something that is fun...like a weekend getaway. Buy yourself something small but especially just for YOU. If you are busy with yourself, his lack of attention won't bother you. My mother always told me, "If you don't take care of yourself, nobody else will." You are an inspiration to all of us with your success with exercise and weight loss. You have a successful career as an educator. You are the world's best stepmom. You deserve to be treated like a queen and if he isn't gonna treat you like one then do it for yourself. ENJOY!!!

Ginny, the concert sounds like something I would have enjoyed. My DH and I are both part Irish and enjoy that kind of thing.

Mouse, hey the scone was whole wheat...it had to be healthier for you than the Dunkin Donuts version.

Rob, have you read the Evanovich books co-written with Charlotte Hughes? I just finished Full House and just started Full Tilt. Who is the author of the Bubbles books?

Well, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only person who has high expectations for people's behavior. Do you ladies remember how our parents taught us "good manners?" Does anybody do that anymore? I know I do, and I've seen a couple other people try to reinforce it in their children...but it seems like a dying tradition. I do it in my classroom. In fact, I refer to my 3 & 4 year olds as "Ladies & Gentlemen." The first couple of times they hear me call them that they smile kind of funny and look confused. But when they get used to it, they hold up their heads taller and walk down the hall quietly with pride. There is something to be said for "high expectations." I mean, if you expect nothing, that is exactly what you will get back.

Yes, I am enjoying my summer, but silly me, I'm worrying over the stuff I'm not accomplishing. I wish I could truly relax without worrying about stupid sh*t. I am scheduling fun stuff and really enjoying it. But, when I wake up the morning after, I think, "Oh God, look at that pile of clean laundry that needs to be folded...look at that fence that needs to be painted...yada yada yada." This week is really booked with cheerleading camp and play dates. Somewhere in there I really have got to do something besides dishes. My house is clean...well the rooms that my friends see are clean...you should see my bedroom and spare room...woohoo!!! I did finally get to the gym. I accepted the fact that I got screwed over the whole aquasize thing, and need to find another way to work out. So, I returned to my old regime. At least this way, I should have a routine in place that should be easier to continue during the school year.

I have not lost another pound...I was a NAUGHTY GIRL. I finally succumbed to PIZZA . It's been a f*cking month people!!! And let me just say something...it didn't taste as good as I thought it would. Hmmmm. What's with that? Pizza is my favorite food, and I've been craving it like mad. Yet when I finally gave in, it wasn't so hot...at least not as good as my imagination had built it up to be. Chocolate is still the all-time winner. I can now have dark chocolate, and it is a really special treat for me. So, next month I will try pizza again, but I may have to drive 30 minutes to have it at my favorite brick oven hole in the wall pizza joint to really make it worth my while.

Anyway, I'm tired of not losing, but now that I'm exercising again, I should move the scale.

I had to come back, and post. I watched Mean Girls this evening, and I mean, I really watched it. I actually put down my book about 1/4 of the way through the movie. Anybody who has watched a movie with me at home will understand how strange that is! I just can't sit and WATCH a movie. In fact, I wish I could use the exercise bikes or the treadmills/elliptical trainers at my gym. They just bought a bunch of them that have DVD players! Hmm. Maybe I'll invent goggles with little TV screens. Anyway...
Underneath the comedy, it was surprisingly true. Things haven't changed much from when I was in high school, except that its easier to be nasty in an anonymous manner now! I've never taught in a public high school, and middle school is pretty tame. It is rather amazing that we didn't have a whole lot of the stuff that was in Mean Girls at my last school: you'd think with kids with emotional disturbance you'd have MORE of it, but it just wasn't there. That's one reason I think that the teachers at my last school really didn't have a clue! Some of the stuff they'd bust the kids for was ridiculous! Like, the bathroom thing I've told you guys about before. They just don't understand what real teenagers are like. I'm starting to be one of the people that the "kids" that work at the pool are talking around. I heard all about a first date the other night, and I caught myself actually telling one of the instructors that he needed to realize he was probably about the same age as most of my students! He's 19! It doesn't seem that
long ago that I was that age myself!
And this does all tie back to Summer's comments on manners. I have seriously high expectations of my students, among them polite and respectful behavior. I don't call them Mr or Miss as some teachers do, but I do get their respect for the most part, and I frequently get them coming to visit my classroom. And, that's enough of that, or I'll start to cry because I'm still angry that they didn't let me say good-bye.
Okay.
Something cheerful: I was just elected secretary of the Maryland chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children. How about that? Okay, I don't think anybody ran against me... And I did check to make sure they don't care that I'm moving to Virginia.
They didn't.
I think I'll go back to Harry Potter for a bit, then go to bed.

Mouse, CONGRATULATIONS!!! HOW COOL ARE YOU?!

hello folks...
this will be quick... i'm having difficulty sitting down comfortably....
you would think that at my ripe old age of $) (convert THAT code!) i would figure out that my albinio booty can NOT tolerate not just TOO much...it can't tolerate ANY sun! So, this morning before anyone else woke up, I threw on my bathing suit and went out to mess with the boy's pool....it is a little thing...but big enough to need chemicals and cleaning...so I did the maintenance and decided that I would get in for just a few moments.... It was glorious! Clean, I did it myself! Silent, except for birds and the dragonflies that were buzzing around! I could float without the fear of being drowned as the boys giggled! You know! I stayed too long. I stayed too long on my stomach....and evidently more of ME was exposed than I thought.... so, I'm off to bed... to lay on my stomach and read! Dh is reading the new HP book....so it is going to be a bit crowded in there! ...but I can't SIT on the, um, overexposed parts comfortably.... How stupid can I be?! (Mannnnnn that visit to the pool was wonderful!) I think my nose must be burned too...cause as I smiled at the thought of the pool my face hurt..... oh geesh...more freckles!

When I can sit down longer, I'll be back! It is times like these that I sure do miss my Mac Laptop (from the old school district!)!

take care!
meeeeee